Various white nationalist groups are promoting a rally there at the cemetery in Selma in a few weeks. I’m not holding my breath in expectation of Pat Godwin and her friends disavowing or excluding them.

By this, Andy. http://www.inquisitr.com/1904807/kkk-billboard-selma-50th-edmund-pettus-bridge-anniversary-marred-by-klan-founders-sign/ To set the record straight (the article is wrong), Forrest was not one of the founders of the first era KKK. But a preponderance of evidence including an 1885 book by J.C. Lester (one of the founders) and D.L. Wilson indicates he was the Grand Wizard of the KKK. The billboard clearly shows that we have not come as far as I would have hoped back in the 1960s when I was a college student, met MLK once, also Peter, Paul & Mary and played in a folk group that ended each performance with “We Shall Overcome.” Not as far, that’s for sure, as most of us from that generation would like to believe. Add to it the incident at Oklahoma, it’s a very sad day IMO.

Correct, Forrest was not one of the original founders of the Klan, and the interviewer was incorrect in saying that he was. But I’m not sure that matters much in the big picture. There is ample evidence that Forrest was an early member, and the most prominent member. The old klansmen actually said so. Kiskaden’s assertion that he “has no way to verify that” is just so much willful denial.

Yes, it’s a sad day. But it’s good that folks like Godwin and Kiskaden are making themselves known for what they believe.

Well, Andy, the first era KKK was founded in Pulaski, Tennessee in December 1865. Most accounts indicate that Forrest did not join the Klan until late 1866 so he could not have been an “early member.” The convention at the Maxwell House in Louisville (where he was elected GW) was held in April 1867.

An “early member” to me would mean early 1866 — at least by the summer. But the timing really isn’t that important IMO. What is important is that he was the GW contrary to all the neo-Confederate hype to the contrary. From what I have read (5 books on the first era Klan and if you’d like I can post the titles) his “office” was largely honorary although he did spend a good deal of time “on the road” in the South from 1866-68 ostensibly trying to get support for several railroads he had an interest in but most likely spreading the message of the KKK at the same time.

And the Guardian. This enables a tiny group to embarrass Southerners and by extension all Americans on a global scale. It feeds so nicely into the meme that Americans are loony. Every family has its share of “don’t pay attention to Uncle Dan, he’s just that way”, but our uncle Dans always seem to be on TV.

I wonder about the minority. I think the true minority are those that are outspoken about their bigotry. A larger population exists that frame the argument around some sort of cultural jargon. Ya know, ‘cuz takin’ down the flags is cultural genocide. Then there is the siolent majority. Those that think this way, but keep their mouths shut about it.

It will be interesting to see what, if anything, Pat Godwin & Co. have to say about explicitly white nationalist groups like the LoS and the SNN participating in their re-dedication coming up in May. My guess is that she’s just fine with them promoting the event and attending, but we’ll see.

My guess is that very little will be said and little conversation will be had.

As you’ve noted, Confederate Heritage groups agree with these LOS/SNN groups when it comes to remembrance. Expect the usual apologists to verify for us all that two groups can agree without one being other. (Ex. The KKK dislike Communism. Many Americans dislike Communism. Therefore, Many Americans are in the KKK).

Andy, Framing the March on Selma as an “offensive military action, directed at them” is not what the man said. He said marching on the cemetery is the military action, and he didn’t know what to expect from the marchers. The cemetery has been vandalized before.

Maybe the interviewer did, and the response was not very interesting, or telling, and so didn’t make the final cut.

Lobbing competing accusations of who’s-more-racist, though, is less important than paying attention to what people actually say and do. Godwin’s explicit disdain for the Selma marchers (both 1965 and 2015 versions) says a great deal about her attitude toward her fellow southerners.